LOBO BELIEVES TIME IS RIGHT FOR WNBA PLAYERS TO FORM UNION

During media day for the WNBA Liberty yesterday at the
Reebok Club in Manhattan, Rebecca Lobo expressed hope that a
players' union would soon be formed, according to Ackert &
Garcia of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Lobo: "We don't need it to
demand million-dollar salaries like the NBA, but we need it
for the little reasons. We need it to make sure the lowest
players are paid a little more than $5,000 a year and guard
against agents. Right now we don't have anyone to certify
agents" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/12). Lobo added that "many" of
the players' two-year contracts will expire after this year,
making the time ripe to unionize. WNBA President Val
Ackerman said the unionization process "is a player
decision. The whole issue and when is a good time is
entirely up to the players. Our approach would be to try to
be constructive" (AP/DETROIT NEWS, 5/12).
TICKET SALES: At media day, the Liberty said they have
sold more than 5,500 season tickets, with pre-season set to
start in 19 days on May 31 (N.Y. POST, 5/12).